The LACONIA was the first of two vessels of this name owned by the Cunard Line. The Laconia was launched from the Wallsend Shipyard on 27 July 1911 and after completion of all testing, was turned over to the Cunard Lines on 12 December 1911 and commencing service on 20 January 1912.

The Laconia and her sister-ship the Franconia were built to replace the Ivernia and Saxonia on the Liverpool to Boston service and to cover for the Lusitania and Mauretania if these were being refitted. They were also intended to ship emigrants from the Mediterranean to New York.

The Franconia was the first of the pair to be built, the Laconia taking her place on the stocks and being launched on 27 June 1911. Her maiden voyage was on 20 January 1912 between Liverpool, Boston and New York, on 3 February she made her first voyage between New York, Naples and Fiume.

For the most part, pre-World War I Cunarders almost all boasted twin stacks. Those that were lost at sea (and both Franconia and her sister Laconia were torpedoed) would be replaced post-war by single-funneled simulacra. As it was, the pretty sisters' profiles, apart from their unseen technological specifications below decks, inaugurated the era of the high-sided steamer, a substantial advance over the comparable look of the company's doughty greyhounds of the 1890's, Campania and Lucania.

The third-class passengers are extremely well catered for, and have provided for them enclosed cabins with berths of modern type for two or four persons, while there are also a number of six-berth rooms for the use of families. The main ding saloon is situated on F deck amidships and extends the full width of the ship. It is a spacious and will lighted apartment, and is fitted with revolving chairs. Two small dining rooms adjoin the main saloon. The remaining third-class public rooms include a social hall on D deck and a smoking room and ladies' room on E deck, all comfortably furnished and well lighted.¹

The Laconia was turned into an armed merchant cruiser in 1914. She was based at Simonstown in the South Atlantic which she patrolled until April 1915. Laconia was then used as a headquarters ship for the operations to capture Tanga and the colony of German East Africa (Tanzania). Four months later she returned to the patrolling of the South Atlantic. The Laconia was handed back to Cunard in July 1916.

On the outbreak of World War I the Laconia was transformed into an armed merchant cruiser, serving in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean. In July 1916 she was returned to Cunard and on 9 September resumed the Liverpool to New York service. On 25 February 1917 she was torpedoed by the German U-50 six miles northwest by west of Fastnet. Capt. Irvine of the Laconia, was returning from the United States to England. The first torpedo struck the liner on the starboard side just abaft the engine room, but did not sink her. Twenty minutes later a second torpedo exploded in the engine room, again on the starboard side, and the vessel sank at 22:20. There was a crew of 217 and she was carrying 75 passengers, of whom 34 were first class and 41 second class passengers. 12 people were killed, 6 crew and 6 passengers., including three American citizens, which added to anti-isolationist feeling there.

Structure, Dimensions and Other Information on the Laconia I

Name: Laconia

Class: Lloyds 100 A1

Certificates: B of J Passenger Lloyds Classification No. 877 Berth 1

Owners: Cunard Steam Ship Company, Ltd. Liverpool

Trade: Atlantic Passenger Steamer, Intermediate Class

Keel Laid: 25 July 1910

Framed: 1 February 1911

Plated: 1 June 1911

Launched: 27 July 1911

Trial Trip: 8 December 1911

Dimensions

Length Overall: 621'3"

Length P.P.: 600'0"

Breadth Mld. 71'0"

Breadth Ext. 71' 3.5"

Crew and Passenger Compliment (Capacity)

Crew

Captain (1)

Officers (6)

Engineers and Staff (17)

Physician and Staff (7)

Petty Officers (20)

Purser Staff (252)

Seaman (32)

Firemen, Trimmers and Others (80)

Total Crew (415)

Passengers
(Capacity)

First Class (184)

Second Class (482)

Third Class

Cabin (1186)

Portable Cabins (758)

Total Third Class (1,944)

Total Passengers (2,610)

Lifeboats: 16 - Capacity: 972 Persons

Documents and Information on the R.M.S. Laconia (I) Available at the Archives